Did you see this?
The National Institutes of Mental Health announced on December 8th that “Toddlers with Autism Show Improved Social Skills Following Targeted Intervention.”
When I read the title of the announcement for study findings, I had a “Well, duh, NIMH!” moment! But, by the time I finished the announcement, I was actually very happy.
Here’s the thing: the study examined some rather minor – but powerful – adjustments in early interventions programs for children with ASD to target and “encourage children to make frequent and intentional efforts to engage others in communication or play.”

It’s almost time for school! That means your child will probably be in a new classroom, maybe even in a new school, have a new teacher and have new classmates……A LOT of changes! It can be very difficult for your child to be social with their new friends once a new school year has begun and as they are going through all these changes and new beginnings. As this new school year is approaching, we wanted to share a few fun ideas for you to help your child be social at school:
#1 Take Pictures

If you have been in this field for a while you must have heard the Einstein analogy at some point. “Einstein didn’t talk until he was 5 and he ended up a genius”, “Einstein spent days at a time in social isolation yet he was successful in his life”. On the same line of thinking we hear a lot of the following statements: “My husband (no offence to our male readers :)) is totally on the spectrum and he made it thorough school without a diagnosis. Why are we diagnosing these kids with all these issues now, when before, they were not such a big deal?”

The Autism Society of Collin County is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the Michelle Garcia Winner Workshop for social skills: ‘Thinking about You, Thinking about me’
For information about Michelle Garcia Winner please see: http://www.socialthinking.com/
For online and mail registration please go to:
http://www.arcdallas.org/
Click on the Michelle Garcia Winner Workshop link.
Workshop details:
Date: September 23rd, 2009
Time: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Place: Garland Special Events Center
Address: 4999 Naaman Forest Blvd, Garland, TX, 75040

A while back, I mentioned social issues but never dug in. Some individuals on the spectrum have intellectual and/or physical difficulties, but in my opinion, the social difficulties outweigh all of the others.

“Please don’t be afraid. He’s just a little boy.”

For about a year now, almost every time I meet a new family for consultative services or groups I get asked a variation on the following question: “Is my child going to be recovered?” and some times even “How fast is my child going to be recovered?” Now, while I understand a fear of the unknown and need for reassurance is part of the process, I also think that a lot of parents have been given the quick fix illusion by certain public figures.